EFCC Probe: Bello Son's American International School Writes To Refund $720,000 Paid In Advance
From Abdul SULE (Abuja)
The authourities of American International School of Abuja has written to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide “authentic banking details” for the refund of fees paid for the children of former Mogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello.
Bello allegedly paid $720,000 in advance as fees for five of his children from the coffers of the Kogi state government, reports.
The children are in Grade Levels 2 to 8 at the school. On getting wind of that financial transaction, EFCC operatives on April 17 laid siege on Bello’s residence in Abuja in an attempt to arrest him over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
But his successor, Usman Ododo stormed the residence and reportedly whisked Bello away.
Following the ugly development, the school in a letter addressed to the Lagos Zonal Commander of the EFCC, said the sum of $845,852 has been paid in as tuition “since September 17, 2021 to date.”
The management said the sum to be refunded is $760,910 because it had deducted educational services already rendered.
The letter read in part: “Please forward to us an official written request, with the authentic banking details of the EFCC, for the refund of the above-mentioned funds as previously indicated as part of your investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family,” the letter reads.“
Since September 17, 2021 to date, $845,852.84 in tuition and other fees have been deposited into our bank account.
“We have calculated the net amount to be transferred and refunded to the State, after deducting the educational services rendered as $760,910.84.
“No further additional fees are expected in respect of tuition as the students’ fees have now been settled until they graduate from ASIA.
"We would draw the attention of the anti-graft agency if there were any further deposits by the Bello family."
The statement signed by Greg Hughes, AISA also said: “Ali Bello contacted the school on Friday 13 August 2021 requesting to pay the family school fees in advance until the students graduate from High School.”
Recall that the Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, had earlier disclosed that the former governor transferred $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to pay in advance for his child’s school fee.
